From Vivek Ramaswamy’s climate change stance to Nikki Haley’s vision: Republican Presidential debate highlights
- Milwaukee GOP Debate featured eight Republican candidates, excluding Trump, aiming to emerge as an alternative to him
- Candidates discussed topics like climate change, immigration, abortion, and foreign policy, showcasing their diverse stances.
- Notable clashes occurred, including Haley challenging Ramaswamy's foreign policy experience, Pence defending his actions, and Burgum differing on abortion stance
Tonight in Milwaukee, the debate stage is featuring eight candidates from the Republican party vying to emerge as the primary alternative to the current front-runner, Donald Trump. In light of his ongoing legal disputes, the former president made the decision not to engage in the event.
Eight contenders are:
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
- Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy
- Former Vice President Mike Pence
- Former South Carolina governor
- US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley
- Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie
- South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott
- Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson
- North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum
Also Read: Donald Trump Tucker Carlson interview gets over 80 million views in 2 hours during 1st GOP debate
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Closing statements
Hutchinson emphasizes the need for new leadership and innovative ideas to bring out America’s best, distancing himself from Biden and Trump. Scott’s closing statement highlights the values his mother instilled, including a strong work ethic, accountability, and addressing gender roles in sports.
Burgum’s closing statement focuses on addressing economic concerns, criticizing Biden’s policies and promising to secure the border while boosting the economy. He vows to counteract inflation and energy policies impacting everyday expenses.
Nikki Haley emphasizes the need to save the country, outlining plans for a stronger economy, border security, education transparency, and national security. Chris Christie highlights his experience in defeating Democratic incumbents and positioning himself as a candidate who can beat Joe Biden. Mike Pence touts his track record of leadership and conservative agenda, expressing faith in the country’s potential to improve with the right leadership.
Pence draws huge applause
Pence humorously suggests mental competency tests for Washington, D.C. residents, drawing applause from the audience and implying a shared sentiment about the need for such assessments.
Also Read: GOP debate fact check: A look at everything the Republican candidates got wrong
Ramaswamy on quality education
Ramaswamy labels lagging test scores a significant concern, deeming the lack of quality education “the civil rights issue of our time.” He proposes eliminating the Education Department in response to the challenge.
Burgum and Haley on trans-kids and sports
Candidates like Burgum and Haley have supported bans on trans kids in school sports, claiming it’s about protecting women’s sports.
Desantis will ‘invade’ Mexico in Day One
DeSantis commits to invading Mexico to combat fentanyl labs and cartels on “Day One” during the debate.
Haley rebukes Ramaswamy
Haley rebukes Ramaswamy over foreign policy inexperience during GOP debate, criticizing his stance on funding Ukraine. She accuses him of choosing a murderer over a pro-American country and highlights the need for foreign policy expertise among candidates.
Also Read: Who is David Pakman?
Burgum’s different view on abortion
Governor Burgum differentiates himself on abortion stance, opposing a federal ban and emphasizing states’ rights per the 10th Amendment. He contends that the issue should be handled by the states, in line with the Constitution’s principles.
Also Read: Who is Doug Burgum? Net worth, age, relationship career, family and more
Ramaswamy and DeSantis prioritize border security
Ramaswamy and DeSantis prioritize border security over Ukraine aid in the GOP debate. They both express the need to allocate military resources to the U.S. southern border to prevent invasion and combat drug trafficking.
Pence clash with Ramaswamy on ‘identity crisis’
Pence challenges Ramaswamy’s claim of a “national identity crisis,” asserting America’s strong values and people. Ramaswamy argues for a tonal reset and acknowledges an internal cultural conflict. The exchange underscores differences in their views on American culture and government.
Ramaswamy and Christie clash again
During the GOP debate, Ramaswamy and Christie clashed over supporting Trump as the nominee, with Ramaswamy criticizing Christie’s campaign as driven by “vengeance and grievance.” Earlier, Ramaswamy’s comment on climate change drew criticism from Christie, who compared him to Obama and Chat GPT.
DeSantis supports Pence over 2020 results
DeSantis acknowledges Pence’s certification of 2020 results, stating “Mike did his duty” and expressing no issue with him. DeSantis urges Republicans to move forward, focusing on the future and reversing the country’s decline, rather than dwelling on past election matters.
Pence leading the speaking time at halfway
At halfway, Pence leads in speaking time, followed by Chris Christie, while North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has spoken the least during the debate.
Also Read: Mike Pence booed by crowd at first GOP debate in the 2024 presidential race | Watch Video
Asa Hutchinson wouldn’t support Trump as the party’s nominee if the former president is convicted
During the debate, all but one Republican candidate indicated they would support Donald Trump as the party’s nominee, even if he were convicted. Asa Hutchinson was the sole candidate who didn’t raise his hand when asked if he would still support Trump in such a scenario.
Haley and Pence fight over abortion
Haley and Pence clash over abortion during the debate, with Haley emphasizing consensus and Pence dismissing it, asserting his unapologetic pro-life stance. Haley questions a federal abortion ban’s viability, suggesting focus on shared goals. Pence insists on moral leadership and champions pro-life values for the presidency.
Biden responds to GOP debate as Ramaswamy calls climate change a “hoax”
Biden responds to the GOP debate on climate change after Ramaswamy calls it a “hoax.”
Biden asserts the reality of man-made climate change, as candidates in the Milwaukee debate were asked about their beliefs on human-caused climate change. Ramaswamy challenges the climate change agenda, deeming it a hoax and detrimental to the economy during the debate.
Also Read: Vivek Ramaswamy calls climate change hoax, draws loud boos at GOP debate | Watch Video
Trump considers Vice Presidential options during first GOP debate despite absence
Former President Trump hinted he might use the first GOP primary debate to consider a vice presidential running mate, despite not participating himself due to his poll lead. Hosted by Fox News in Milwaukee, the debate began at 9 p.m. ET. Trump’s comment was posted on his Truth Social platform.
Pence-Ramaswamy clash
Pence and Ramaswamy clash over experience in the debate. Pence emphasizes presidential crisis-handling experience, while Ramaswamy focuses on specific policy actions. The exchange ends with Pence rejecting the idea of a rookie president, prompting laughter.
Mike Pence targets Vivek Ramaswamy
Mike Pence asserts his strong qualifications and readiness, drawing on his experience as vice president, congressman, and governor during the GOP debate in Milwaukee.
He defends Trump administration policies, highlights his record of success, and takes a swipe at Vivek Ramaswamy’s remark about presidential responsibilities.
Vivek Ramaswamy introduction
Vivek Ramaswamy introduces himself during the debate, highlighting his background as an entrepreneur, emphasizing his non-political status, and expressing concern for the future American dream for his sons’ generation.
Candidates questioned about viral song “Rich Men North of Richmond”
GOP candidates at the Milwaukee debate were questioned about the viral song “Rich Men North of Richmond,” expressing frustration with government and alienation.
DeSantis responded that it symbolizes America’s decline and the need to reverse it. The song gained attention after musician Oliver Anthony performed it, capturing sentiments of many Americans.
Also Read: What is the story behind Oliver Anthony’s viral song Rich Men North of Richmond?
Also Read: Who is Oliver Anthony? Singer goes viral after singing Rich Men North Of Richmond
Natalie Grant performs the National Anthem
Christian musician Natalie Grant performed the National Anthem at the GOP debate in Milwaukee, emphasizing her patriotism over political alignment.
Also Read: Natalie Grant sings national anthem at GOP debate | Watch Video
DeSantis at centre stage
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, second in GOP polls, takes center stage in Milwaukee debate, alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, with attention on their interactions following DeSantis-aligned super PAC’s controversial guidance.
Audience
Around 4,000 attendees gather at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum for the first GOP primary debate, where applause is permitted. It marks a significant moment as voters assess contenders, though Trump is absent.
Biden’s campaign to air during Republican debate
The Biden campaign will air an ad during the Fox News GOP debate to counter Republican messaging. They’ve spent about $250,000 for this high-profile opportunity, part of a $1.2 million ad reservation this week. The DNC is also using billboards and a plane in Milwaukee for the Republican primary. Biden’s reelection effort is investing $25 million in a new ad push, highlighting his administration’s accomplishments.
Why is the debate being held at Wisconsin?
Wisconsin crucial for Republicans due to its historical role in Democratic presidential wins. Recent elections had tight outcomes, making Wisconsin a pivotal “tipping point” state. Wisconsin’s ongoing swing-state status highlighted in 2022, influencing both parties’ prospects.
Trump leading GOP presidential nomination
Many Americans think Trump should have been charged in his four indictments, ABC News/Ipsos reports. Despite negative public sentiment, Donald Trump maintains a commanding lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Trump also competes closely with Biden in general election polls.
Among Republicans, support for Trump remains strong despite legal challenges, with charges seen as politically motivated.
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